When you think you know something and then you get information that changes the way your perspective about what you thought you knew, that’s a valuable experience.

To everyone who thinks they “know” their kata, you missed a valuable experience yesterday.

Personally, I like kata. I had the fortune to go to the AJKF Foreign Kendo Leadership Seminar in 2005 and the kata instruction there was really great. I’m also fortunate that I remember the kata pretty well, so when it comes time to do a snap demonstration (like at this year’s TKC Kendo Camp, where I had to do a demonstration with Miyamoto Sensei using shinken), I feel confident in my ability to perform them well.

Thank you, Raymond Sensei (and by extension, all who have instructed him), for providing a completely different yet ultimately awesome perspective on kata.

The focus of the seminar was on how the kata “work” and how they are related to shinai kendo.

When I say “work”, I mean things like explaining the “trigger” that shidachi should provide in kata #1 to prompt uchidachi to attack, or the underlying feeling shidachi should have when moving into jodan against uchidachi. This was the first time I have heard these points explained. Ever.

This was not a kata seminar for beginners, so if you don’t know your kata yet, don’t worry. Keep focusing on becoming competent with the motions. For those who do know your kata, you should hope that you are able to attend the next seminar, or that your dojo’s sensei will be teaching what was presented.

Or, you can just watch the video. (Coming soon.)